Rotary drum coin stacking and dispensing device

ABSTRACT

A coin dispensing mechanism comprising a plurality of coin dispensing stations, each station including a rotary drum having a circumferential flanged edge containing a plurality of holes mounted within a stationary wheel having a circumferential overhanging portion which forms a circumferential slot with the flanged edge of the rotary drum. The drum will rotate through a reservoir of coins during which coins will drop through the holes and into the circumferential slot. The coins will then be engaged by pins mounted on the outside of the flanged edge of the drum and transported through the circumferential slot until they come in contact with a coin chute located at the top of the drum into which they are deposited. When the coin chute is full, the drum will stop.

United States Patent Landis et al.

[451 Nov. 28, 1972 ROTARY DRUM COIN STACKING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Inventors: Donald E. Landis; Mohaniit S. Sid- Attamey-J. T. Cavender et al.

hu; Richard E. Cone, all of Cam- [57] ABSTRACT bridge, Ohio A coin dispensing mechanism comprising a plurality of [73] Assignee: The Nafiona] Csh Regmer Com coin dispensing stations, each station including a ro- Pany Dayton Ohio tary drum having a circumferential flanged edge containing a plurality of holes mounted within a stationary [22] sept- 1971 wheel having a circumferential overhanging portion [21] APPL 178,320 which forms a circumferential slot with the flanged edge of the rotary drum. The drum will rotate through a reservoir of coins during which coins will drop :LS. Cl n u s s I I then be g g p mourned on 1 0 l l the outside of the flanged edge of the drum and transported through the circumferential slot until they [56] References Cited come in contact with a coin chute located at the top UNITED STATES PATENTS of the drum into which they are deposited. When the coin chute is full, the drum will stop. 2,423,502 7/1947 Jorgensen ..l33/8 l0 Clalns, 4 Drawing Figures e-f ja nu l PATENTED llflV 2 8 I972 THEIR ATTORNEYS ROTARY DRUM COIN STACKING AND DISPENSING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a coin dispenser which will be easy to load and will be in condition to dispense coins as long as there are coins in the coin-hopper.

It is another object of this invention to provide a change dispenser which is capable of receiving coins in bulk for loading and which will quickly transport the coins to a coin chute for dispensing therefrom. In order to carry out these objects, there is provided a coin dispenser comprising a plurality of sensing stations, each composed of a rotary drum mounted within a stationary wheel, the drum and the wheel having co-extending circumferential flange portions forming a slot, a plurality of holes located in the flange portion of the drum and abutting means mounted on theoutside of the flange portion of the drum adjacent to each of the holes. A coin hopper adapted to receive coins in bulk form is mounted adjacent to the rotating drum and is in communication with the bottom of the drum. As the drum rotates, coins will drop through the holes to be engaged and carried by the abutting means through the circumferential slot to a coin chute located at the top of the drum. Coins located in the coin chute are dispensed by operation of a gate located in the chute.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of one of the coin dispensing stations for dispensing the coin of one denomination.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing details of the drum.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on lines 33 of FIG. 1 showing an outside portion of the rotating drum flange.

FIG. 4 is a view taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing details of the coin chute.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention is directed to a change dispenser for dispensing coins as change as a result of a merchandise transaction. The change dispenser comprises five coins dispensing mechanisms, each of which dispenses a single coin denomination. Since each coin dispensing mechanism is of the same construction, the present description will be limited to a single dispensing mechanism.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a typical coin dispensing mechanism utilized in the change dispenser. The mechanism includes a stationary disc member 20 to which is attached to open-ended coin hopper 21. The disc 20 has a slot 22 into which coins 23, located in the hopper, will fall through. The disc 20 has also a circumferential flange portion 24. Secured to the disc member 20 is a bushing 25, within which is positioned a pair of bearings 26 rotatably supporting one end of a drive shaft 27 operated by a motor 28.

Connected to the drive shaft 27 by means of a slip clutch 30 is a drum member 31 having a circumferential flange portion 32, within which are located-a plurality of holes 33 (FIG. 3) large enough for one of the coins 23 to drop through. The drum member 31 is positioned within the flange portion 24 of the disc 20. Mounted adjacent to and downstream of each of the holes 33 on the outside of the flange portion 32 are a pair of pin members 34. As shown in FIG.. 2, the pin members 34 are located in a circumferential slot formed by the flange portion 24 of the disc 20 and the flange portion 32 of the drum member 31.

Located in the flange portion 24 on the top side of the disc member 20 is a slot- 35 (FIG. 4) within which is located an elongated center portion 36 of the flange portion 24. Mounted within the slot 35 is one end of a coin chute 37 which is attached to the disc member 20 by means of studs 38. A bottom portion 40 of the chute 37 extends within a slot 41 (FIG. 2) located in the center of the flange portion 32 of the rotating drum. At the bottom of the chute 37 is a gate member 42 mounted on the armature 43 of a solenoid 44. Located beneath the end of the chute 37 is a coin receptacle 45.

In the operation of the change dispenser, the operator will'load the hopper 21 of each coin dispenser with coins of one denomination. The motor 28- will then operate, thereby rotating the drum 31 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. As the drum rotates, coins 23 will fall from the coin hopper 21 by means of gravity through the slot 22 in the disc 20 to the inside of the flange portion 32 of the rotating drum 31, where they will then fall through the holes 33 into the slot formed by the flanges of the disc 20 and the drum 31. The coins will then be engaged by the pins 34 and carried by the movement of the drum to the top of the disc 20 where they will be guided into the coin chute 37 by the bottom portion 40 of the coin chute. As the coins fill up the coin chute, there will be reached a point where the last coin in the coin chute will engage a coin carried by the pins on the rotating drums which will result in the stopping of the drum. The drum 31 will then slip on the drive shaft 27 due to the action of the slip clutch 30. Whenever change is to be dispensed, the solenoid 44 will be energized, thus withdrawing the gate 42 from the coin chute 37 allowing the proper number of coins to drop from the coin chute into the coin receptacle 45. After the proper number of coins have been dispensed, the solenoid will be tie-energized to move the gate back into the chute. As the coins are dispensed from the chute, the drum 31 will be released to rotate to feed new coins into the coin chute until the gate is returned to its blocking position. It will thus be seen from this construction that the coin chute will always be filled with coins until the supply of coins in the coin hopper 21 is exhausted. When this occurs, the operator can easily fill the hopper with coins.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the sphere and scope of this invention. 1

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: a l. A coin dispenser comprising a. a support memberv having a first flange portion;

circumferential b. a drum member rotatably mounted within the.

terior of said drum member whereby coins.

deposited in said hopper will drop through the apertures in said second flange member into said circumferential slot;

e. a coin receptacle engaging said circumferential slot downstream from said coin hopper;

f. and abutting means mounted on the outside of said second circumferential flange portion and adjacent said apertures, said abutting means adapted to engage coins deposited into said circumferential slot through said apertures whereby the coins are transported through said circumferential slot to said coin receptacle bysaid abutting means.

2. The coin dispenser of claim 1 wherein said first circumferential flange portion contains an opening therein, and said coin receptacle comprises a chute member having one end mounted within said opening and in said circumferential slot whereby coins transported by said drum will be depositedin said chute member. I

3. The coin dispenser of claim 2 which includes a. a gate member mounted on the other end at said chute member for stacking coins in said chute member;

b.- and operating means engagingsaid gate member to operate said gate member whereby coins are released from said chute member.

4. The coin dispenser of claim 3 wherein said rotating means includes a. a motor driven shaft member;

b. and a slip clutch engaging said drum member and said shaft member to allow said shaft member to rotate said drum member, said slip clutch adapted to allow the drum member to stop when said chute member is full of coins. v

5. The coin dispenser of claim 1 wherein said support member contains a slot located adjacent the lower portion of said coin hopper and the interior of said drum member whereby coins deposited in said coin hopper will fall by gravity through said slot and into the interior of said drum member.

' by said pins.

6. The coin dispenser of claim 1 in which said abutting means. comprises a pair of pins depending from the outer surface of said second flange portion and positioned adjacent each of said apertures, said pins adapted to engage and hold coins deposited coins are transported to said corn receptacle IOll t must 7. A coin dispenser comprising 7 v a. a stationary drum member having a first circumferential flange portion and awall portion with an opening at its lower end; v

b. a rotatably mounted drumrmember, positioned within the flange portion of said stationary drum member, said rotatably mounted drum member having a second circumferential flange portion coextendingwith said first flange portion thereby forming a circumferential slot, said second flange portion containing a plurality of apertures;

c. drive means engaging said rotatably mounted drum member;

d. a coin hopper mounted on said stationary drum member for storing coins in random interrelationship, said hopper positioned adjacent the opening in. said drum member whereby coins deposited in said hopper will drop through said opening and said apertures in said second flange portion into the circumferential slot; p

. a coin chute mounted on' said stationary drum member and positioned within said circumferential skit; g

f. and blocking means mounted on said second flange portion ad'acent each of said apertures, said blocking means being positioned'within-said circumferential slot whereby coins deposited through the apertures into said slot are engaged and transported by said blocking means to said coin chute.

8. The coin dispenser of claim 7 which includes a. a rotatably mounted blocking member mounted on said coin chute for stacking coinsin said coin chute; 1

b. and means for rotating said blocking means when operated whereby coins stacked in said coin chute are discharged from said chute.

9. The coin dispenser of claim 8 wherein means includes a. a constantly operating motor driven shaft member;

and

b. a slip clutch engaging said rotatably mounted drum member and said shaft member, said slip clutch adapted to allow said rotatably mounted drum member to stop when said coin chute is full of coins.

10. The coin dispenser of claim 9 in which said blocking means comprises a pair of pin members positioned downstream of each aperture and adapted to engage coins deposited through the apertures whereby coins are transported through the circumferential slot said drive to said coin chute. 

1. A coin dispenser comprising a. a support member having a first circumferential flange poRtion; b. a drum member rotatably mounted within the flange portion of said support member, said drum member having a second circumferential flange portion located adjacent said first circumferential flange portion forming a circumferential slot therebetween, said second flange portion containing a plurality of apertures; c. means for rotating said drum member; d. a coin hopper mounted on aid support member, said hopper being in communication with the interior of said drum member whereby coins deposited in said hopper will drop through the apertures in said second flange member into said circumferential slot; e. a coin receptacle engaging said circumferential slot downstream from said coin hopper; f. and abutting means mounted on the outside of said second circumferential flange portion and adjacent said apertures, said abutting means adapted to engage coins deposited into said circumferential slot through said apertures whereby the coins are transported through said circumferential slot to said coin receptacle by said abutting means.
 2. The coin dispenser of claim 1 wherein said first circumferential flange portion contains an opening therein, and said coin receptacle comprises a chute member having one end mounted within said opening and in said circumferential slot whereby coins transported by said drum will be deposited in said chute member.
 3. The coin dispenser of claim 2 which includes a. a gate member mounted on the other end at said chute member for stacking coins in said chute member; b. and operating means engaging said gate member to operate said gate member whereby coins are released from said chute member.
 4. The coin dispenser of claim 3 wherein said rotating means includes a. a motor driven shaft member; b. and a slip clutch engaging said drum member and said shaft member to allow said shaft member to rotate said drum member, said slip clutch adapted to allow the drum member to stop when said chute member is full of coins.
 5. The coin dispenser of claim 1 wherein said support member contains a slot located adjacent the lower portion of said coin hopper and the interior of said drum member whereby coins deposited in said coin hopper will fall by gravity through said slot and into the interior of said drum member.
 6. The coin dispenser of claim 1 in which said abutting means comprises a pair of pins depending from the outer surface of said second flange portion and positioned adjacent each of said apertures, said pins adapted to engage and hold coins deposited through said apertures whereby coins are transported through the circumferential slot to said coin receptacle by said pins.
 7. A coin dispenser comprising a. a stationary drum member having a first circumferential flange portion and a wall portion with an opening at its lower end; b. a rotatably mounted drum member positioned within the flange portion of said stationary drum member, said rotatably mounted drum member having a second circumferential flange portion co-extending with said first flange portion thereby forming a circumferential slot, said second flange portion containing a plurality of apertures; c. drive means engaging said rotatably mounted drum member; d. a coin hopper mounted on said stationary drum member for storing coins in random interrelationship, said hopper positioned adjacent the opening in said drum member whereby coins deposited in said hopper will drop through said opening and said apertures in said second flange portion into the circumferential slot; e. a coin chute mounted on said stationary drum member and positioned within said circumferential slot; f. and blocking means mounted on said second flange portion adjacent each of said apertures, said blocking means being positioned within said circumferential slot whereby coins deposited through the apertures into said slot are engaged and transported by said blocking means to said coin chute.
 8. The coin dispenser of claim 7 whicH includes a. a rotatably mounted blocking member mounted on said coin chute for stacking coins in said coin chute; b. and means for rotating said blocking means when operated whereby coins stacked in said coin chute are discharged from said chute.
 9. The coin dispenser of claim 8 wherein said drive means includes a. a constantly operating motor driven shaft member; and b. a slip clutch engaging said rotatably mounted drum member and said shaft member, said slip clutch adapted to allow said rotatably mounted drum member to stop when said coin chute is full of coins.
 10. The coin dispenser of claim 9 in which said blocking means comprises a pair of pin members positioned downstream of each aperture and adapted to engage coins deposited through the apertures whereby coins are transported through the circumferential slot to said coin chute. 